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<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><b><span style="color:windowtext">SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE coming to Clevelands State
Theatre during national tour</span></b></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">Roy Berko</span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:windowtext">(Member:<span style> </span>Dance Critics Association)</span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">Since its premiere in
2005, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, has been a television sensation.<span style> </span>Created by Simon Fuller and Nigel
Lythgoe, the show, which is an eleven-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, has
sparked the nations interest in dance and produced some top-ranked performers.<span style> </span>Many have gone on to professional
careers, including a number presently appearing in Broadways NEWSIES.</span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">A panel, in a process
similar to AMERICAN IDOL, selects 20 dancers to appear in a competition.<span style> </span>Judges do the initial selections,
and then whittle the number down to a final 10.<span style> </span>The jurists, plus votes by viewers, then select a male and a
female winner. </span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">The performers, who come
from a variety of<span style> </span>dance styles,
including classical, contemporary, ballroom, hip-hop, street, jazz, tap and
musical theatre are forced to perform all the genres on their march toward
stardom. </span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">The 10<sup>th</sup> season
winners were a duo of 19-year olds, Amy Yakima of Northville, Michigan and
Du-Shaunt Fik-Shun Stegall of Las Vegas, Nevada, who each danced off with
$125,000 and a magazine cover photo.<span style>
</span>Jasmine Harper and Aaron Turner were the runners-up.</span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">The
quartet will appear with the </span><span style="color:windowtext">other top 10 finalists at the State Theatre in
Cleveland on October 15 at 8:00 p.m.. </span></p>
<p class="" style="margin-bottom:6pt"><span style="color:windowtext">The tour started in East
Lansing, Michigan on October 1.<span style>
</span>The morning of that show I interviewed 25-year old Turner, whose
specialty is tap.<span style> </span>Ironically, he
was not selected to be in the top 10, but due to an injury to a finalist, he
was given a reprieve.</span></p>
<p class="">Turner, who is a dance instructor at the Bunker
Dance Center and performer in Las Vegas, was encouraged to try out for SO YOU
THINK YOU CAN DANCE by his father, a Vegas performer, others in the family and his
students.<span style> </span>He is a University of
Nevada-Las Vegas graduate in Business/Music Management.<span style> </span></p>
<p class="">He started to dance at age 8, and like all young
male dancers put up with teasing because the activity is considered a girls
world.<span style> </span>Undeterred, he kept
up his lessons and performances.</p>
<p class="">The most difficult challenge for Turner was having
to dance outside of his tap-dance-centered comfort zone.<span style> </span>Tapping is not one of the genres in
which the SYTYCD perform, so tappers never get a chance to spotlight their
strongest moves. In addition, he was learning the dance routines in only seven
hours, which put additional pressure on him.<span style> </span></p>
<p class="">During the evolution of the show the judges often
commented on how Turner was capable of going beyond what tappers usually do. </p>
<p class="">Turner admitted to be surprised by his success.<span style> </span>Maybe, he admitted, it was an
advantage that he wasnt originally picked, as I was perceived as an underdog.</p>
<p class="">According to Turner, the dancers form a family.<span style> </span>You get close to the people you live
and work with daily, and it is hard when your friends are eliminated.</p>
<p class="">How are the dancers matched into the couples which
form the basis for much of the competition?<span style> </span>The requirements center on the partners not having the same
dance style or training and their height.<span style>
</span>We have choice in the selections.</p>
<p class="">Turners future?<span style> </span>He wants to reach out and look for opportunities.<span style> </span>His goals are to act, dance, sing and
be involved in the arts.<span style> </span>He
anticipates record deals where the songs he writes and sings will be performed.
</p><p class="">His advice to aspiring dancers is, dont give up,
and be you, dont put on a face or an act.</p>
<p class="" style="text-autospace:none">To get tickets to see Turner and the rest of the 2013 SO
YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE top ten, go to: <span style="color:windowtext">216-241-6000 or </span><a href="http://www.playhousesquare.org"><span style="color:windowtext">http://www.playhousesquare.org</span></a></p>
<p class=""><span style="color:rgb(0,255,255)"></span></p><p class=""><br></p><p class=""> <br></p>
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